My name is Ethan, and I am a current RIDGE student. One of my favorite parts of being a part of the RIDGE Community is working with DREAM Adaptive. Every Thursday, RIDGE students are given the opportunity to engage with the Whitefish community by volunteering alongside locals to give kids and adults with physical or mental differences a chance to explore the outdoors and find value in being active, despite the challenges they face on a daily basis.

At DREAM, I am given a chance to interact with kids every Thursday with physical or mental disabilities, and help them overcome their fears and have a great day. Although working with DREAM isn’t always as exciting or fast-paced as free-skiing, I find each day with DREAM very rewarding as I help the participants grow and become better skiers or snowboarders, all with smiles on their faces.

DREAM’s existence is a testament to the generosity of both Big Mountain and the generous locals, who provide money, time, and the much-needed space that enables dream to thrive as an affordable adaptive sports program. RIDGE’s involvement in DREAM allows us to get closer to the Whitefish community and adds meaning to the program. Because of DREAM, Ridge Students are not only given an opportunity to better themselves, but to also give a chance for others to do some of the things that so many of us take for granted.